Lagos Choking: How Weak Environmental Laws Are Killing Residents!

Lagos is facing an environmental crisis due to the weak enforcement of environmental laws. Illegal waste disposal has become normalized, leading to severe health consequences for residents. This article explores the root causes of this issue and proposes concrete steps to address it.

The Problem: Weak enforcement of environmental laws leads to illegal waste disposal.
The Impact: Over 30,000 Lagosians died from environmentally related diseases in 2021.
The Culprits: Negligence and complicity by LAWMA, the Environmental Task Force, and the police.
The Solution: Prosecute complicit officials, establish an Independent Environmental Enforcement Taskforce, and create a community-based surveillance system.

Lagos’ Silent Killer: Environmental Lawlessness

Ignorance of the law? More like blatant disregard! In Lagos, environmental crimes have become so common, they’re practically a tourist attraction – a grim one. What started as a ‘small thing’ has snowballed into a full-blown environmental disaster, all thanks to years of neglect and, let’s be honest, official complicity.

From Exception to Expectation: The Rise of Illegal Dumping

Remember when seeing refuse dumped on the highway was shocking? Now, it’s just Tuesday. LAWMA officials drive by, not to enforce the law, but to clean up the mess – effectively giving illegal dumping the green light. It’s like saying, “Go ahead, dump your trash. We’ll clean it up… eventually.”

LAWMA: From Enforcer to Enabler?

Here’s the kicker: some LAWMA officials are now part of the problem. Instead of going house to house, street to street, making sure people follow the rules, they’re silently helping this crisis grow. They’ve become accomplices, and that’s a dangerous game.

The Laws Are There, But…

Don’t get it twisted – Lagos isn’t lawless. There are laws against illegal waste disposal, clear as day. We’re talking:

Section 245 of the Criminal Code Act: No dumping harmful stuff in public.
Section 10 of the same Act: Helping someone break the law is a crime.
Section 56(1) of the Lagos State Environmental Law (2017): Everyone needs a LAWMA waste bin.
Section 56(6): No bin, no mercy (well, theoretically).
Section 57: LAWMA can fine you.

So, why the mountains of trash everywhere? Because enforcement is a JOKE. From Sangotedo to Epe, refuse is having a party on major roads, and the people who should stop it are just strolling by.

Thursday: The Day of Reckoning (for Illegal Dumpers)

Here’s a crazy routine: people now wait until Thursday, LAWMA cleanup day, to dump their trash illegally. It’s like a sick, twisted schedule where breaking the law is planned and expected.

Complicity: Aiding and Abetting the Apocalypse

When LAWMA cleans up illegal dumpsites without finding and punishing the offenders, they’re basically joining the crime. Section 10 of the Criminal Code says that’s a no-no, but who’s listening?

The Deadly Consequences of Neglect

This isn’t just about ugly streets; it’s about life and death. According to the Anadolu Agency, over 30,000 Lagosians died from environmental diseases in 2021, and most were kids. That’s because of bad sanitation, dirty air, and polluted water – all thanks to unchecked waste.

Cholera, Typhoid, and More: A Health Crisis Fueled by Trash

In 2023, cholera killed over 15 people in weeks. The source? Illegal dumpsites in Eti-Osa and Lagos Mainland. In places like Ajegunle and Mushin, typhoid, malaria, and respiratory infections are normal, thanks to this mess.

Nigeria’s Broken Promises: International Commitments Ignored

Nigeria has signed big international treaties like the Basel Convention and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. But every time a dumpsite grows under the government’s nose, Nigeria is failing its people and the world.

The Right to a Clean Environment: A Constitutional Mandate

In a key case, Centre for Oil Pollution Watch v. NNPC (2018), the Supreme Court said that the right to life includes the right to a clean environment. That means the government has a duty to act. When they don’t, they’re breaking the law.

Enough is Enough: Time for Action

Lagos is hurting. Its streets stink, kids are dying, and the government is standing by. It’s time to:

Prosecute LAWMA officials and others who are helping this happen.
Create an Independent Environmental Enforcement Taskforce with real power.
Start a community-based system to report offenders.
Launch a full investigation into LAWMA’s failures.

Too many lives have been lost. Public health can’t wait. The law needs to be more than just words. We have to act – before the trash takes over.

Nsianya is a lawyer and human rights advocate focused on environmental justice and legal accountability. He is the founder of Empathy Law Firm.